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W. H. TRAVIS. DESK 0R CABINET. No. 401,314 PatentedApr. 9, 1889.

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W. H. TRAVIS. DESK OR CABINET. No. 401,314. Patented Apr. 9'. 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

\VILLTAM ll. TRAVIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR "lO JAMESDENSMORE, OF BROOKLYN, NE\V YORK.

*' DESK OR CABINET.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 401,314, dated April 9,1889.

Application filed April 20, 1885. Serial No. 162,803. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM II. TRAVIS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a certainImproved Desk or Cabinet, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved convertible table, which is moreespecially designed for use for type-writing purposes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of thetable with the parts in position to receive the type-writing or similarmachine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, and Fig. 3 is asimilar view with the parts in position for use as a desk for ordinarywriting purposes.

A desk of the ordinary height is not adapted for use with a type-writing or similar machine, as this would place the latter too high for theoperator. 1 therefore construct a desk with two tops of differentheights, so that either can be brought into use, as may be desired.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame of the table is composed of thesides A and A and the back connecting-board, B, together with thecross-piecc D at the front. Either of the side boards may be providedwith or form part of a chest of drawers, the side frame A in the presentinstance being provided with such set of drawers of any suitable orconvenient construction. Between the two side frames are two movabletops, E and E, the former for the reception of the type-writing orsimilar machine, while the top E can be brought into use for ordinarywriting or other oliice work. .Vhen the top E is brought into position,its upper side is level with and forms a continuation of the side framesA and the set of drawers. This movable top E is provided at its sidesnear the rear end with guide pins 1), which are adapted to verticalgrooves 11 in the side frames, A and A, the upper ends of these groovesbeing curved, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to form supports for thepins, and consequently for the rear end of the top E when the latter isdrawn out to its horizontal position.

To the front of the top E is hinged a flap, F, which, when the board ismoved back out of the way to the vertical position shown in Fig. 2,folds up against the said top, and when the latter is brought into itshorizontal position the flap assumes the vertical position shown in Fig.3, resting on the cross-piece D, and forming a support for the front endof the top E.

The lower movable top or shelf, E, is carried by arms or brackets 8,Figs. 2 and 3, which are hinged at e to the side frames, A and A, andthis shelf or top E is connected at its rear end by straps, cords, orchains G, which pass over pulleys H, mounted on the side frames, A andA, the other ends of the chains or straps being connected to the rearend of .the top E, so that when the said top E is brought into thehorizontal position for using the table for office work the rear end ofthe shelf E will be allowed to drop, and moving on the hinges e the saidshelf will assume the position shown in Fig. 3, and the type-writing orother machine, 0, carried thereby will be out of the way, as indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 3. It will thus be seen that the sliding top Eitself forms a counter-weight for the hinged shelf.

hen it is desired to bring the type-writing machine into use, the top Eis raised at the front and brought to a vertical position and then moveddownward to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereby, through the medium ofthe straps or chains G, the rear end of the shelf E will be raised andthe shelf brought to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2, the frontend of the said shelf resting on the crosspiece D. In other words, themoving of either of the tops or shelves out of position brings the otherthereby into position. The movement of the lower shelf is such that whenit is raised the type-writing machine thereon is moved forward towardthe front of the desk. as it is elevated. This, it will be seen, is dueto the fact that the fulcrum or pivoting point of said shelf is somedistance below the level of the latter when elevated.

The shelf is provided with suitable catches lar form of catch, however.\Vhen the shelf E is in the depressed position, its rear end issupported in a cross-strip, I). The shelf E is preferably provided onits surface with hooks or other devices, by which the type-writing orother machine will be firmly secured thereto.

I claim as my invention 1. The herein-described table or desk fortype-writing purposes, said table having a movable top,which,when down,is at the proper .the top a hinged shelf, which, when elevated,

is at the proper height for a type-writii'ig machine, the said shelfbeing hinged near its front, substantially as described, whereby thefront edge of said shelf is moved forward toward the front of the deskas it is elevated, as and for the purpose described.

3. The herein-described table or desk for type-writing purposes, saidtable having a vertically-sliding folding top, which, when horizontal,is at the proper height for use as an ordinary desk, and below the top ahinged shelf, which, when elevated, is at the proper height for atype-writing machine, andqchains, straps, or cords connecting thesliding top and hinged shelf, all substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the side and rear frames of a desk andcross-strips D with

